-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The thing about North Korea is that once in a while , it does something that sends the international community into a flurry of talk about the hermit nation , even though little is known about what 's really going on .

This week , Pyongyang fired a long-range Unha-3 rocket and sent a satellite into orbit . Nervous world leaders quivered as the rogue country defied a United Nations ban on developing nuclear - and missile-related technology .

Was the world a more dangerous place after Wednesday 's event ? What would it mean for North Korea 's young leader as he is about to mark the first anniversary of the death of his father , Kim Jong Il ?

When the son ascended to power , concerns surfaced over an inexperienced , mysterious heir taking charge of North Korea 's nuclear weapons program , its hardcore and cultish communist society and a population of the hungry .

His eldest half brother said in his book that he was concerned Kim Jong Un would fail to satisfy North Koreans .

Now , the new `` Dear Leader '' can claim not just a public relations victory but also a tangible accomplishment as he prepared for Monday 's anniversary of Kim Jong Il 's death .

Amid the dearth of information , one thing was clear : Kim Jong Un can now stand proud before his people on that big day .

`` The question is what does Kim Jong Un intend ? said Leon Sigal , director of the Northeast Asia Cooperative Security Project at the Social Science Research Council in New York .

`` It 's been an interesting first year but as with most things in North Korea , we simply do n't know , '' he said .

Few nuclear experts saw the launch as a tremendous technological advancement , but the perceptions were great and gave Kim a big boost in clout . He can say he fulfilled a promise that has kept his family dynasty in power for decades ; that the nation 's persistence to move on -- despite international isolation and internal hardship -- has paid off .

In that sense , the satellite launch was proof of progress and power , said Bill Richardson , the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who traveled to North Korea in 2010 .

`` He wants to show his people after one year in leadership , North Korea is a strong military , technological , space , nuclear power -LRB- with -RRB- nuclear weapons , '' Richardson said .

`` I think that was partly to shore up the military , to shore up his support , '' he said .

James Schoff , a North Korea specialist with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace , agreed .

`` I think this is very important to Kim Jong Un to build political legitimacy and bolster the spirits of his people , '' he said . `` He is doing this despite the fact that he knows he is going to come into a lot of criticism in the region for it . ''

The launch was a continuation of Kim Jong Un 's father 's project and it was important to achieve success days ahead of the death anniversary , especially after a failed rocket launch in April . That launch had been timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the birth of founding leader Kim Il Sung , the grandfather of Kim Jong Un .

`` Then , it was a major embarrassment , '' said Han Park , director of the University of Georgia 's Center for the Study of Global Issues who was in North Korea at the time of the failed launch . `` So they tried to rectify that .

`` This is a tremendous psychological boost vis-a-vis the South , '' Park said referring to the fact that South Korea has not yet put a satellite in space .

North Korea 's ruling politburo is sure to spin the story as national dreams coming to fruition under the initiative of Kim , Park said .

Sure enough , the state-run news agency KCNA said the launch was `` a desire at the behest '' of Kim .

`` All the people across the country are greatly excited at the news of the successful launch and progressives are extending sincere congratulations to them , '' it said .

The sentiment was echoed at a snow-dusted celebratory rally Friday .

`` The successful launch was the result of Kim 's `` unique will , courage and boldness , '' said Jang Chol , head of the State Academy of Sciences .

The rocket launch allows Kim to establish military security for North Korea , said Park , and allows him to move forward with another priority : economic progress .

`` This is an important game changer , '' Park said .

Park , who has been visiting North Korea for decades , said conditions for ordinary North Koreans remain bleak , though there is not the mass starvation the country suffered in the 1990s .

`` Kim Jong Un 's primary objective is to improve the economy by participating in the international market , '' Park said .

That 's a feat that is not possible without U.S. cooperation .

`` So he realized he has to improve relations with the outside world , '' Park said . `` In the big scheme of things , Kim Jong Un must have thought that North Korea would be taken more seriously -LRB- after a rocket launch -RRB- . ''

Sigal said Kim has been consolidating his power for some time by sacking unwanted people from his Cabinet .

`` Purge is too strong a word but there have been all sorts of changes , '' Sigal said . `` That 's telling me that this guy is taking charge and setting up for economic policy changes . Kim Jong Un staked his personal prestige on economic growth . ''

Sigal warned that at the moment , there were no signs of any economic changes .

Park , however , said he could see some evidence of the North Koreans boosting agricultural production , building hydraulic power plants and other infrastructure and inviting foreign investors . The Chinese , in particular , have taken advantage of that , Park said .

Sigal agreed that Kim Jong Un has shown signs that he wants to stimulate economic growth but the problem is that means he has to make a change from his father 's military-first policy that devoted billions of dollars into weapons development .

`` The question is does he have the political muscle and the political will to do that ? '' Sigal said . `` He has certainly positioned himself to do that . ''
In the world 's most totalitarian state , it 's difficult to predict the future .

But the rocket launch this week certainly cast the spotlight back on the enigmatic nation and served as a reminder to global powers that the North Korean problem is n't just going to slither sway .

`` He 's saying to the world , ` Look , I 'm back , ' '' Richardson said about Kim Jong Un . `` You ca n't keep me off the headlines . I have to be dealt with . This is the capability I have . ''

Richardson believes the main message this week has to be that the United States and the four other countries that have been involved in talks with North Korea -- China , Japan , South Korea and Russia -- have to come up with a new approach in their dealings with Pyongyang .

`` These guys are serious ; they 've got missiles now , '' Richardson said .

`` It 's uncertain about the new leader , '' he said . `` I 'm disappointed , because I thought maybe there 's a positive political opening with him . ''

Maybe there still is .

Sigal said the only way to get what Washington wants on the nuclear front is to come to the table . It 's also the only way to know more about North Korea .

Sigal likes to say that there is only one thing tougher than negotiating . And that 's not negotiating .

CNN 's Jamie Crawford contributed to this report .

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With rocket launch , Kim Jong Un can bolster domestic support

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Ahead of his father 's death anniversary , leader can say he fulfilled a promise to his people

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Experts say Kim has positioned himself to make economic changes

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It 's unclear what will happen next in the reclusive nation